oscillate
To swing back and forth, especially if with a regular rhythmTo swing back and forth, especially if with a regular rhythm.
» Life is unpredictable, problematic, oscillating between ups and downs.
Meaning
3 senses(intransitive)To swing back and forth, especially if with a regular rhythm.
A pendulum oscillates slower as it gets longer.
schwingen, pendeln, oszillieren
колеба́тьсяkolebátʹsja, кача́тьсяkačátʹsja, осцилли́роватьoscillírovatʹ
осцилюватиoscyljuvaty, колива́тисяkolyvátysja
(intransitive)To vacillate between conflicting opinions, etc.
The mood for change oscillated from day to day.
be undecided about something; waver between conflicting positions or courses of action
(intransitive)To vary above and below a mean value.
Examples
5 sentencesLife is unpredictable, problematic, oscillating between ups and downs.
A seiche is a standing wave oscillating in a body of water.
Some scientists believe the origin of this oscillating signal to be a neutron star.
deEinige Wissenschaftler glauben, daß der Ursprung dieses oszillierenden Signals ein Neutronenstern ist. — Waldelfe
He said the Earth's orbit around the sun oscillates between elliptical and more circular.
Wind and weather conditions on the Great Lakes may create a seiche, an oscillating wave which can be several feet high.
Translations
8 languagesBy meaning 1
By meaning 1
By meaning 1
Origin
First attested in 1726; borrowed from Latin ōscillātus, perfect passive participle of LatiFirst attested in 1726; borrowed from Latin ōscillātus, perfect passive participle of Latin ōscillō (“to swing”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from ōscillum (“a swing”), usually identified with ōscillum (“a little face or mask hung on a tree that sways with the wind”), diminutive of ōs (“mouth, face”). See also osculate.
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Forms
oscillates, oscillating, oscillated, oscillated| Base form | oscillate · to oscillate |
|---|---|
| 3rd person singular | oscillates |
| Present participle | oscillating |
| Past simple | oscillated |
| Past participle | oscillated |
regular · Lesson
Synonyms
3 synonymsWord family
7 related wordsLessons for this word
3 lessons- A1Present simple — Because it is a verb
- A1Past simple, regular verbs — Because of its past form
- A2Present perfect: introduction — Because of its past participle